Magnetic retriever



arch 6, 1951 Filed April 6, 1948 Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE men-me RETRIEVER Milton srDu nkelberger, Dayton, Ohio Animation April-t, 1948, S'rial No. 19,292

'5 Claims.

This inventionrelates to a-retriever and more particularly to a retriever of the magnet type that may be used in retrieving ferro-ma'gne'tic articles located in obscure, concealed, invisible or inaccessible places, although not necessarily so limited. I

Fishermen, on numerous occasions, have lost their steel tackle by accidentally dropping the pole and reel into the water. Furthermore, fishermen oftentimes utilize several rods loosely laid over the edge of a boat. Then, in the everit a pole drops into the water, it is lost. Retrievers have beenprovided which consist of a mechanism attached to the end of the handle that includes a cork or another float attached to a=line normally stored in a compartment in suchamanner that when the compartment is submerged in the water, the cork or float is released so as to carry one end of the line to the surface, the 'other'end of the line being attached to the tackle. I-his, however, is objectionable, in that it is necessary to have one attachment to each rod and furthermore, these attachments'unbalance the rod, occupy space, are in the way and therefore very undesirable.

An object of my invention is to provide a magnetic retriever wherein a small magnet is used, which magnet may have insufficient strength to raise or lift the rod and if such is the case, the retrieveris provided with hooks positioned in the vicinity of the polesof the magnet-in such a manner that by manipulating the magnet, the hooks work underthe-rod or the object to be retrieved, so that when the magnet is raised, the hooks lift the'rod to the surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide amagnet that may be suspended from a line so as to be lowered towards a ferro magnetiic object to be retrieved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a horseshoe magnet adapted-to be suspended-from the bight of the horseshoe-and associated with grappling hooks that are. adapted to snag an object to be retrieved.

Another object of this invention is'to-provi'de a permanent type of magnet associated with hooks made from a low retentive ferro-magn'etic material that are magnetized by the magnetflso that the hooks extend the efiective magnetic range of the magnet.

Other objects and advantages reside in the constructionof parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation as will becomem'o're apparent from the following description.

Referring to 'thedra'wings,

Figure --1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, showing the magnetic retrieving device.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 discloses a modification.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure '3.

In the drawings, the reference character ID indicates an electromagnet of the horseshoe type, having the two poles i2 "and I4. A grappling hook'm'ember i5 is provided with arcuate portion lBa positioned on the curved portion of the horseshoe magnet l0. The-arcuate portions IGa terminate in a loop lBb projecting through a slot in a clevis or clamping member 18. This clevis I8 is clamped over the top of the 'magnet at its center, as viewed in Figure l, and is held in position by a screw 20 passing through apertures in the two ends of the clevis l8 and held in clamping position by a nut 22. A suitable line 24 may be tied to the loop lob.

The arcuate portions lGa merge into offset portions Hic, each positioned upon a side of the respective legs of the horseshoe magnet. These offset portions lfic'contac-t the sides of the magnet, so as to resiliently grasp the sides. The off set portions merge into outwardly deflected portions Hid, terminating in hooked portions l6'e extending in opposite directions, so as to be adapted to engage the object-30 to be retrieved. In the particular embodiment disclosed herein, object 30 has been disclosed "as a fish rod.

The grappling hook member H3 is preferably madefrom ferro-magnetic material, as fo'rexample, copper coated steel wire. By utilizing the ferro-magnetic material in member It, the eiiective range of the magnet isextended over a much widerarea, in thatthe hook portions We become polarized. The material in member [6 may have a low retentivity; but due-to the fact that a'portion of member I6 is juxtaposed upon the legs-of the magnet, the hook portions 16c function the same as a permanent magnet.

If'the magnet is used in retrieving a steel rod inwatn-the steel rod being invisible, a great deal of 'di'fficulty is encountered inlocating the'rod,'i'n that it is usually impossibleto see the bottom. That being the -case,=an-ordinary grappling tool or hook without theme of a magnet will engage anytype of object, whether it be a twig, a root, seaweed'rubbish'and' it may even snag on a rock.-

The magnetic hook "that has'been shownherein, whenever it comes within'range so 'as to be attracted by the steel rod, begins to exert *a pull,

The magnet may not be strong enough to raise the rod. However, by jiggling the line supporting the magnet, the hook portion underlying the magnet has a tendency to work under the rod, to thereby use the hook portion for lifting the rod. The hook portions [6e extend at only a slight inclination with respect to a normal to the plane passing through the main body of the magnet. That being the case, the hook portions [6e do not have a tendency to snag on all types of obstruc-.

tions. In other words, the hook portions We are substantially horizontally disposed when the magnet hangs downwardly. The inclination of the hook portions l6e, however, is sufiicient so that this inclination, together with the magnetic pull, retains the retrieved article on the hooks. However, the hooks do not tend to snag as readily as they would in the event the angle of inclination were greater. When the rod is being raised, the main body of the magnet is used in reenforcing or imparting strength to the wirelike hook portions. Furthermore, by making the wire-like hook portions from a ferro-magnetic material, as for example, steel, then the hook portions are also attracted to the rod. The rod then closes the magnetic path. As is well known to those skilled in the art, when a ferro-magnetic member comes in contact with a magnetized member, the pull exerted upon the member used in closing the magnetic path is then the greatest. That being the case, it can readily be seen that the hook portions lBe will hold the rod in position While it is being retrieved.

This device need not be limited in its use to raising fish rods. It may also be used for locating and retrieving baits and lures, in that most baits and lures have attached thereto ferromagnetic hooks or a ferro-magnetic deflecting plate or wobble plate, or some other ferro-magnetic part. Many of the baits and lures now used are of such a weight that a comparatively small magnet will sufiice.

This retirieving magnet may also be used for locating fire arms that may be tossed into a body of water, as for example, many a criminal has thrown the pistol used in committing a crime into a body of water, with the hope that the pistol will never be found, to thereby determine whether or not the bullet was fired from that particular pistol.

This magnetic hook assembly is not limited to use in retrieving objects out of the water. For example, the same hook assembly may be used in retrieving chains and tools used by electricians in wiring a building. Furthermore, it ;may be used in retrieving lost tools and other parts inaccessible or inconveniently located as far as the mechanic is concerned. For example, in connec-- tion with airplanes or motor vehicles, a nut or a bolt, a screw driver or a wrench, may accidentally slip out of the hand and drop into an inaccessible place.

In the modification disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, a heavy duty magnetic hook assembly has been shown. A magnet 49 has mounted thereon an arcuate hook member 42 having a loop 42?) located between the arcuate portions 42a overlying the sides of the magnet 40. Member [8 cooperating with the screw 20 and the nut 22, not shown, is used in supporting the magnet in a manner similar to that disclosed in the preferred embodiment. Each of the metallic clips 44, one on either side of the magnet, is provided with an arcuate passage 46 through which the arcuate portion 42a extends. The legs of the metallic clips 44- are secured in any suitable manner to the sides of the magnet 40. The arcuate portions 420. terminate in downwardly and outwardly directed portions 42d terminating in a reentrant hook portion 42c. In this particular modification the hooks 42c are more securely locked in position. The magnetic assembly shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be used in a manner identical to that described in the preferred embodiment.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A retrieving magnetic assembly including a magnet, a grappling hook member associated with the magnet, said member being provided with a loop used in supporting the magnet, and means for attaching said member to the magnet, said member terminating in a pair of hook-like portions one adjacent each pole of the magnet adapted to hook an object attracted to the magnet, the hooks engaging the object so as to retrieve the same.

2. A retrieving magnetic assembly including a magnet, a grappling hook member associated with the magnet, said member being provided with a loop used in supporting the magnet, and a clevis for attaching said member to the magnet, said clevis embracing a portion of said member adjacent said p and straddling the center of the magnet, said member terminating in a pair of hook-like portions one adjacent each pole of the magnet adapted to hook an object attracted to the magnet, the hooks engaging the object so as to retrieve the same.

3. A retrieving magnetic assembly including a horseshoe magnet, a grappling hook member associated with the magnet, said member being provided with a loop used in supporting the magnet, and means for attaching said member to the magnet, said member having arcuate portions overlying the curved leg portions of the legs of the magnet and merging into offset portions grasping the sides of the magnet, said oifset portions terminating in hook portions arranged in spaced relation from the poles of the magnet.

4. A retrieving magnetic assembly including a horseshoe magnet, a grappling hook member of ferro-magnetic material associated with the magnet, said member being provided with a, loop used in supporting the magnet, and means for attaching said member to th magnet, said member having arcuate portions overlying the curved leg portions of the legs of the magnet and merging into offset portions grasping the sides of the magnet, said ofiset portions terminating in hook portions. arranged in spaced relation from the poles of the magnet, said hook portions extending the effective magnetic range of the magnet.

5. A retrieving magnetic assembly including a horseshoe magnet, a grappling hook member of ferro-magnetic material associated with the magnet, said member being provided with a loop used in supporting the magnet, and a clevis for at taching said member adjacent said loop and straddling the center of the magnet, said member terminating in a pair of hook-like portions one adjacent each pole of the magnet so as to extend the efiective'magnetic range of the'mag- 5 net, said hook-like portions being adapted to hook an object attracted by the magnetic assembly so as to retrieve the same.

MILTON S. DUNKELBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Quimty Jan. 30, 1877 Renter June 14, 1904 Keller Oct. 24, 1916 Cole Mar. 23, 1920 Jacobsen Sept. 20, 1938 Madore Apr. 4, 1989 

